Many people don’t even know Catalan is the main language spoken in Barcelona and Catalonia, Spanish or Castillian being spoken as the second. I never knew this until upon my arrival to Barcelona.
The Catalan language is only spoken here and was banned from being used until after Spain’s dictatorship under Franco. Catalan families preserved there language in privacy throughout this time where Catalan culture is banned.
It is a very unique language and actually derives from Latin and French. Certain Catalan words are very parallel to words in French. It is closer to the French language than it is to Spanish, given Catalonia is right beneath France. I think it is a very interesting and cool element of Barcelona and the Catalan culture.
Katie's Barcelona Blog 